Lake Tapps angler Brian Dennis brought home the $4,000 second prize in last weekend’s Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Invitational. Dennis was the leader after the first day with his 16.2-pound chinook.
The winner was Jason King of Bellingham, whose 16.6-pound fish topped the field of 293 anglers to earn the $10,000 first-place prize.
Dennis was tied for second place with David Hodges of Friday Harbor.
Another local angler was among the winners. Christian Thomas was named the Youngest Angler of the derby. The 41/2-year-old from Tacoma weighed in a 5.1-pound salmon Saturday.
RIVERS
Cowlitz: Fishing has been on the slow side, according to a state report. A sampling of 13 bank anglers showed they had kept just three steelhead and released two. The best success seems to be near the Blue Creek boat ramp. No boat anglers were interviewed.
Columbia: Quite a few anglers were out prospecting for spring chinook Saturday. There were 34 boats and 58 bank anglers counted during a flight count. While no salmon were sampled, staffers did see a springer caught off Caterpillar on Sunday, said Joe Hymer, state fish biologist. Steelhead fishing has been best in The Dalles Pool. Sturgeon fishing has been best in the Bonneville Pool, but that area was slower than last week.
Skookumchuck: The steelhead action has been slow, according to online reports.
Skykomish: The section from the High Bridge to the forks at Index remains open through Feb. 15. People are catching some steelhead using dark red jigs under a float.
Smelt: Just a reminder that fishing for Columbia River smelt is closed in both fresh and salt water statewide. In 2010, the federal government declared eulachon a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Yakima: The river is free of ice, and the trout fishing has been fair to good. Most people are fishing dark-colored stonefly patterns or prince nymphs under an indicator, said a report from The Evening Hatch.
LAKES
American: People are catching some yellow perch, mainly using worms. Look for the fish holding about 50 feet deep, according to an online report.
Offut: The lake produced some limits over the weekend, according to a staffer at Offut Lake Resort. People were using dough baits, worms and maggots.
Riffe: People are catching landlocked coho at the dam. Try using shrimp and a bit of worm together.
Rufus Woods: The fishing will be focused more on still fishing locations as the surface water temperature drops below the 40 degree mark, said Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service. He recommends using jigs near the lower pens.
Washington: People are catching some cutthroat trout, but the action isn’t red hot. Try trolling the south end of Mercer Island.
SALTWATER
Fly fishing: People are still catching resident coho on the beaches on both sides of the Tacoma Narrows, said a staffer at Puget Sound Fly Co. Just be sure to fish during a tidal change, so there is some movement in the water.
Hood Canal: Fishing has been best in the north end of the canal. Sampling at the Misery Point boat ramp shows about 1 in 3 anglers is bringing home a salmon.
North Sound: Trolling with plugs has been the best method, said Mike Chamberlain at Ted’s Sports Center. The Possession Bar area was as productive as anywhere else.
Tacoma: Salmon fishing has been on the slow side, said Art Tachell at Point Defiance Marina. Trolling is best because you can cover more water. Look for fish hugging the bottom in water 120-150 feet deep late in the day from the slag pile to the grain elevators.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
